The Detroit Tigers blew a seven-run lead to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday in a game where Tarik Skubal notched his 1,000th career strikeout and delivered a quality start.
In the large scheme of things, it's just one loss on a long schedule, but considering where the team is on the calendar, it could be a season-defining loss. With five days to go before the trade deadline, the Tigers are now 4 1/2 games out of a wild card spot, and Skubal is nearing free agency. The Tigers have to decide on Skubal, and insiders are now expecting the Tigers to trade him in the coming days.
“I don't even really want to speculate, to be honest,’’ Skubal said after the loss, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale. “I try to live where I'm at right now, you know? And right now, I'm a Detroit Tiger. I don't really want to speculate a ton on what's happening or what the future holds because I don't know.
“I mean, I understand the questions. I understand what could happen or what could change a week from now. But don't really like thinking like that. It's a tough place to be.’’
Skubal would slot in at the top of almost every rotation in baseball. He is a two-time Cy Young Award winner, and even as a rental would net the Tigers a haul. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies would all love to add him for the final stretch.
Skubal has a 2.79 ERA and 116 strikeouts on the season. He has looked strong since returning from midseason surgery, and looks set up to lead a team to a World Series. It seems very likely that his next start will come in a different uniform.